Method for preparing a phosphonic acid ester

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for preparing a phosphonic acid ester having the structure ##STR1## wherein R 1  is farnesyl or a derivative or analog thereof, and R 2  is lower alkyl, by treating a farnesyl halide R 1  Hal(Hal═Cl,Br,I) with an alkoxide of the structure ##STR2## wherein M is an alkali metal and R 2c  is lower alkyl. The resulting phosphonic acid ester is an intermediate in preparing a squalene synthetase inhibitor which is used for inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A method is provided for preparing a phosphonic acid ester which is useful as an intermediate in the preparation of a squalene synthetase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 381,434 entitled "Phosphorus-Containing Squalene Synthetase Inhibitors and Method", filed concurrently herewith now abandoned discloses phosphorus-containing squalene synthetase inhibitors which are useful in inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis including those of the structure ##STR3## wherein R², R³, and R⁴ are H, metal ion, or lower alkyl and Y¹ and Y² are H or halogen. These compounds may be prepared starting with the phosphonic acid ester II ##STR4## wherein R² is C₁ to C₈ alkyl or C₃ to C₁₂ alkenyl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for preparing phosphonic acid ester II, which method includes the steps of reacting a halide of the structure III

    R.sup.1 -Hal(Hal is Br, Cl or I)                           III

with an alkoxide (or metallated carbinol) of the structure ##STR5## wherein R^(2a) is C₁ to C₈ alkyl or C₃ to C₁₂ alkenyl (preferably alkyl (R^(2c))), and M is an alkali metal such as cesium, potassium, sodium or lithium, preferably potassium, to form the phosphonic acid ester II and, if desired, recovering the phosphonic acid ester II from the reaction mixture.

The resulting phosphonic acid ester II may then be employed in preparing squalene synthetase inhibitors of structure I employing procedures as described in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 381,434 filed concurrently herewith now abandoned.

In the above formulae II, III and IV, R¹ is R⁵ -Q¹ -Q² -Q³ -wherein Q¹, Q² and Q³ are independently: ##STR6## or a bond, with the stipulation that if Q¹ is a bond, then Q² and Q³ must be bonds, and if Q² is a bond, then Q³ is a bond; R⁶ is H, lower alkyl, halo or haloalkyl (e.g. CH₂ F, CF₃); R⁷ is H, halogen, lower alkyl or alkylthio; R⁸ is H, halogen, trimethylsilyl or lower alkyl; R⁹ is H, or lower alkyl; ##STR7## R¹⁶ --C═C--CH₂₁ --(wherein R¹⁶ is lower alkyl or H), or CH₃ (CH₂)_(p) -- where p is 2 to 7; R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl such as methyl or ethyl, halogen, lower alkenyl or haloalkyl or R¹⁰ and R¹¹ can be taken together to form (CH₂)_(s), where s is 2 to 7; R¹² is hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen or lower alkenyl; R¹³ and R¹⁴ are independently lower alkyl such as methyl or ethyl; with the proviso that if all of Q¹, Q² and Q³ are bonds, then both R¹⁰ and R¹¹ cannot be H, and R⁵ cannot be CH₃ (CH₂)_(p) --, with p≦4.

The compounds prepared in accordance with the method of the invention include all stereoisomers thereof.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term "lower alkyl" or "alkyl" as employed herein alone or as part of another group includes both straight and branched chain hydrocarbons containing 1 to 8 carbons in the normal chain, preferably 1 to 4 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl or isohexyl.

The term "lower alkenyl" or "alkenyl" as used herein by itself or as part of another group refers to straight or branched chain radicals of 2 to 12 carbons, preferably 3 to 6 carbons in the normal chain, which include one double bond in the normal chain, and which may include an aryl or alkyl substituent, such as vinyl, 2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-phenyl-2-propenyl, 2-pentenyl, 2-hexenyl, 2-heptenyl, 2-octenyl, 2-nonenyl, 2-decenyl, 2-undecenyl, 2-dodecenyl and the like.

The term "halogen" or "halo" as used herein refers to chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine with chlorine or fluorine being preferred.

The term "haloalkyl" as used herein refers to any of the lower alkyl groups defined above substituted with a halogen as defined above, for example CH₂ F, CF₃ and the like.

The term "metal ion" refers to alkali metal ions such as sodium, potassium, cesium or lithium and alkaline earth metal ions such as magnesium and calcium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In carrying out the method of the invention, a solution of carbinol V ##STR8## wherein R^(2a) is C₁ -C₈ alkyl or C₃ to C₁₂ alkenyl, in an inert organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, monoglyme, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene and the like, preferably tetrahydrofuran, is treated with a solution of strong base such as of the structure A or A' ##STR9## wherein M is an alkali metal such as potassium, sodium or lithium, preferably potassium, or LiH, NaH or KH, in an inert organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, monoglyme, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene and the like, preferably tetrahydrofuran, under an inert atmosphere such as argon, at a temperature within the range of from about -78° C. to about 50° C., preferably from about -20° C. to about 20° C., to form the alkoxide IV.

A solution of halide III in a dry inert organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, monoglyme, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene and the like, preferably tetrahydrofuran, is treated with the alkoxide IV at a temperature within the range of from about -78° C. to about 50° C., and preferably from about -20° C. to about 20° C., to form the phosphonic acid ester II.

A 1:1 molar ratio of halide III and alkoxide IV will usually be employed, although, if desired, an excess of either reactant may be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, a solution of carbinol VA ##STR10## in an inert organic solvent, which preferably is tetrahydrofuran, is treated with a strong base, preferably, potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in an inert organic solvent, which preferably is tetrahydrofuran, under an inert atmosphere, such as argon or nitrogen, to form alkoxide IVA ##STR11##

A solution of farnesyl chloride in an inert organic solvent, which preferably is tetrahydrofuran, is reacted with the alkoxide IVA at a temperature within the range of from about -10 to about 10° C., employing a 1:1 molar ratio of alkoxide:farnesyl chloride to form the phosphonic acid derivative of the structure IIA ##STR12##

The carbinol V may be prepared by treating phosphite VI ##STR13## with paraformaldehyde and an organic base such as triethylamine, tributylamine or ethyl diisopropylamine at a temperature within the range of from about 70° to about 120° C., under an inert atmosphere, such as argon or nitrogen, to form carbinol V.

Examples of starting material III, that is R¹ -Hal, suitable for use herein include the following which either are known in the literature or are simple derivatives of known compounds prepared by employing conventional procedures.

It will be appreciated that the compounds listed in the following table represent all possible stereoisomers.

    R.sup.1 -Hal(Hal=Cl, Br or I)

wherein

    R.sup.1 is R.sup.5 --Q.sup.1 --Q.sup.2 --Q.sup.3 -- as follows in A. through F. ##STR14##

The phosphonic ester of formula II may be employed to prepare squalene synthetase inhibitors in accordance with the following reaction sequences. ##STR15##

As seen in Reaction Schemes I, II and III, compounds of formula IA where Y¹ and Y² are H or halogen, R^(2a), R^(3a) and R^(4a) are independently H, metal ion, C₁ to C₈ alkyl or C₃ to C₁₂ alkenyl, may be prepared in accordance with the following method of the invention starting with diester II.

The diester II may be converted to the corresponding monoester IIA by any of four methods (A, B, C or D) as discussed below.

In Method A, diester II is treated with a strong aqueous base such as NaOH, KOH, CsOH, or LiOH, typically in the presence of a solvent such as dioxane, isopropanol, methanol or ethanol at a temperature within the range of from about 25° to about 125° C. to form monoester IIA.

In Methods B and C, diester II is subjected to a monodealkylation by treatment with sodium cyanide, potassium cyanide, cesium cyanide, or lithium cyanide and a solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide or dimethylformamide (Method B) or with sodium iodide, lithium iodide, cesium iodide, or lithium chloride in the presence of a solvent such as dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide or acetone, the above reactions being carried out at a temperature of within the range of from about 40° to about 160° C., to form monoester IIA.

In Method D, diester II is subjected to a bisdealkylation by treating II with bromotrimethylsilane under an inert atmosphere such as argon or nitrogen in the presence of 2,4,6-collidine or triethylamine in dichloromethane and then reesterifying by reacting with an alcohol (R^(2a) OH) in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and an organic base such as pyridine, or 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) to form monoester IIA.

As seen in Reaction Scheme II, compounds of formula I may be prepared in accordance with the following method of the invention starting with monoester IIA which is dissolved in an inert organic solvent such as dichloromethane and treated, under an inert atmosphere such as argon, with N,N-diethyltrimethylsilylamine. After evaporation of solvent, the residue is dissolved in dichloromethane or an aromatic solvent such as benzene or toluene, or other appropriate inert organic solvent, preferably containing dimethylformamide as a catalyst, under an inert atmosphere such as argon, and oxalyl chloride is added thereto. The reaction mixture is evaporated to give acid chloride IIC ##STR16##

An α-phosphonate anion P-C-P coupling is carried out on the acid chloride IIC as follows.

To a stirred solution of an optionally substituted dialkyl methyl phosphonate ##STR17## wherein Y¹, and Y² are as defined hereinbefore and R^(3a) and R^(4a) are independently C₁ -C₈ alkyl or C₃ -C₁₂ alkenyl, in an inert organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, cooled to a temperature within the range of from about -90° C. to about 0° C., is added a strong base, such as n-butyl lithium or lithium diisopropylamide, in hexane, tetrahydrofuran or other inert organic solvent under an inert atmosphere such as argon, followed in some instances by transmetallation by the addition of a metal halide, such as CeCl₃, ZnCl₂, MgBr₂, CuI, to form the metal salt IIE ##STR18## wherein M₁ is Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, ⁺ MgHal, ⁺ ZnHal, ⁺ Ce(Hal)₂ or ³⁰ Cu wherein Hal is a halogen ion such as Cl³¹ , Br⁻ or I⁻.

The metal salt IIE is maintained at a reduced temperature as described above and acid chloride IIC in an inert organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran or diethyl ether is added to form the phosphinyl-phosphonate IA.

The metal salt IIE will be employed in a molar ratio to acid chloride IIC of within the range of from about 1.0:1 to about 2.5:1 and preferably from about 1.8:1 to about 2.4:1. Triester IA, in an inert organic solvent such as methylene chloride, may then be subjected to dealkylation by treating with excess bromotrimethylsilane or iodotrimethylsilane in the presence of 2,4,6-collidine or bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide or bistrimethylsilylacetamide and then treating with an inorganic base such as aqueous NaOH, LiOH or Mg(OH)₂, optionally in the presence of an alcohol such as methyl alcohol, to form the salt IB which may be separated out by chromatography. Salt IB may be treated with a strong acid such as HCl to form acid IC.

As seen in Reaction Scheme III, compounds of formula I may be prepared according to the following method of the invention starting with monoester IIA which is dissolved in pyridine, and treated with p-nitrophenol and 4-dimethylaminopyridine and dicyclohexyl carbodiimide, under an inert atmosphere such as argon, at 25°-60° C. (employing a molar ratio of phenol: IIA of within the range of from about 0.8:1 to about 1.2:1) to form the p-nitrophenyl ester IIB.

An α-phosphonate anion P-C-P coupling is carried out on nitrophenyl ester IIB by reacting nitrophenyl ester IIB with metal salt IIE in a manner similar to that described above for IA to form the phosphinyl-phosphonate IA. The metal salt IIE will be employed in a molar ratio to p-nitrophenyl ester IIB of within the range of from about 1.0:1 to about 2.5:1 and preferably from about 1.8:1 to about 2.4:1.

The triester IA may be hydrolyzed to the corresponding monoester ID as follows.

Triester IA may be treated with strong inorganic base such as KOH, NaOH or LiOH in H₂ O or H₂ O/alcohol mixtures, or with nucleophiles such as, NaCN, KCN, NaI, LiCl, or LiBr in dimethylformamide or dimethylsulfoxide, under an inert atmosphere such as argon, employing a molar ratio of base or nucleophile to triester of within the range of from about 2:1 to about 10:1, and at a temperature within the range of from about 25° to about 160° C. to form the monoester ID ##STR19## where M_(a) is an alkali metal.

The phosphonic acid ester II is useful in the synthesis of squalene synthetase inhibitors of structure I, prepared as described in U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 381,434 filed concurrently herewith now abandoned, and as described below.

The squalene synthetase inhibitors of formula I may be employed to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibition of the de novo squalene production. These compounds inhibit the squalene synthetase enzyme and, in addition, some of the compounds of formula I inhibit other enzymes in the pathway from isopentenyl diphosphate to squalene, that is, farnesyl diphosphate synthetase and isopentenyl diphosphate - dimethylallyl diphosphate isomerase.

Thus, the compounds of formula I are useful in treating atherosclerosis to inhibit progression of disease and in treating hyperlipidemia to inhibit development of atherosclerosis. In addition, the compounds of formula I may increase plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

As squalene synthetase inhibitors, the formula I compounds may also be useful in inhibiting formation of gallstones and in treating tumors.

The following Examples represent preferred embodiments of the present invention. Unless indicated otherwise, all temperatures are expressed in ° C.

EXAMPLE 1 (E,E)-[[(3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxy]methyl]phosphonic acid, bis(1-methylethyl) ester A. (Hydroxymethyl)phosponic acid,

bis(1-methylethyl) ester

A mixture of 33.2 g (0.20 mol) of diisopropyl phosphite, 2.8 ml (0.02 mol) of triethylamine, and 6.0 g (0.20 mol) of paraformaldehyde, was immersed in a 100° C. oil bath and then heated between 100-120° C. for 45 minutes under nitrogen. An exotherm occurred within 10 minutes and all of the paraformaldehyde dissolved rapidly. The triethylamine was removed at reduced pressure, and the residue was bulb-to-bulb distilled in four portions to provide a total of 5.17 g (91%) of title compound as a colorless oil.

TLC silica gel (5:95 CH₃ OH:CH₂ Cl₂) R_(f) =0.17

¹ H NMR (CDCl₃, 270 MHz) δ4.73 (sextet, 3H, J=6 Hz) 3.84 (d, 2H, J=6 Hz) , 1.34 (d, 12H, J=6 Hz) ppm.

¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃, 67.8 MHz) δ70.9 (d, J=6 Hz) 57.5 (d, J=162 Hz) 23.8 (d, J=6 Hz) ppm

B. (E,E)-Farnesyl chloride

A solution of N-chlorosuccinimide (6.8 g, 50.9 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (338 ml) was cooled to -30° and dimethylsulfide (4.1 ml, 55.3 mmol) was added dropwise over 3 min. After 13 min., the cooling bath was removed and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The mixture was cooled to -40° and a solution of (E,E)-farnesol (11.3 ml, 44 mmol) in 112 ml dichloromethane was added over 10 min. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The temperature of the reaction mixture rose to 0° and a clear solution was obtained. After stirring for two more hours the solvent (about 400 ml) was removed on a rotary evaporator and the material was taken up in hexane (600 ml). The solution was washed with ice cold water (3×90 ml) and cold brine (2×35 ml) and then dried (MgSO₄). The solvent was removed under vaccum at ambient temperature and finally dried under pump vaccum to give 11.0 g (100%) of title compound as a pale yellow liquid.

C. (E,E)-[[(3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxy]methyl]phosphonic acid, bis(1-methylethyl) ester

A solution of potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.4 M in tetrahydrofuran (THF), 14.3 ml, 20 mmol) was added dropwise over 5 min. to a solution of [(CH₃)₂ CHO]₂ P(O)CH₂ OH (3.92 g, 20 mmol) in THF (40 ml) at ice bath temperature under argon. A precipitate formed in 3 minutes. After 10 min a solution of Part B (E,E)-farnesyl chloride (4.82 g, 20 mmol) in dry THF (10 ml) was added dropwise over 4 min. and the mixture was stirred for 2.5 hours at 0° C. and for 3 hours at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with acetic acid (1.2 g., 20 mmol). The mixture was poured into ethyl acetate (EtOAc) (50 ml) and washed twice with 30 ml 50% brine and 30 ml brine. The organic layer was dried (MgSO₄) and solvent was evaporated to give 8.1 g (100%) of crude title product. The product was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel (200 g). The column was prepared in hexane; the material was charged neat and eluted successively with 0.1 liter hexane, 4 liter 25% EtOAc/hexane and 1 liter 50% EtOAc/hexane). Fractions 53 to 108 (45 ml each) were combined and evaporated to give 5.6 g (yield 70%) of title product. Forerun fractions 44 to 52 (45 ml each) were combined and evaporated to give 0.4g (yield 5%) of slightly impure title product.

Anal. Cal'd for C₂₂ H₄₁ O₄ P (MW 400.54); C, 65.97; H, 10.32; P, 7.73; H₂ O, 0.0. Found: C, 66.03; H, 10.32; P, 7.67; H₂ O, 0.01 (KF.

¹³ C NMR (67.8 MHz, CDCl₃): δ141.5, 135.3, 131.1, 124.3, 123.7, 119.9, 70.8 (d, J=6 Hz), 69.1 (d, J=12 Hz), 64.0 (d, J=168 Hz), 39.6, 39.5, 26.7, 26.2, 25.6, 24.0 (d, J=4 Hz), 23.9 (d, J=4 Hz), 17.6, 16.4, 15.9 ppm.

TLC, silica gel: a. EtOAc/hexane, 1:1, (UV and PMA, heat), R_(f) s:farnesyl chloride 0.8, carbinol 0.03, title product 0.24. b. Acetone/hexane, 4:1, R_(f) s:farnesyl chloride 0.87, carbinol 0.41, title product 0.73.

Example 2 (E,E)-[[(3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxy]methyl]phosphonic acid, diethyl ester A. (Hydroxymethyl)phosphonic acid, diethyl ester

The procedure of Kluge was followed (Org. Syn. 1986, Vol. 64, 80-84). The following ingredients were combined: 69 g (0.50 mol) of diethyl phosphite, 15 g (0.50 mol) of paraformaldehyde, and 5.1 g (0.05 mol) of triethylamine. The stirred mixture was immersed in a preheated oil bath at 120° C. and heated for one hour. Upon cooling, the triethylamine was removed on the rotary evaporator at 80° C., and the residue was then distilled bulb-to-bulb (150-160° C., 0.10 mm) to provide 57.5 g (68%) of title compound as a colorless liquid.

TLC: Silica gel (5:95 CH₃ OH:CH₂ Cl₂) R_(f) =0.19.

1H NMR (CDCl₃) (270 MHz) δ4.95 (br, 1H) 4.09 (quint, 4H, J=7 Hz), 3.83 (d, 2H, J=5.8 Hz) , 1.27 (t, 6H, J=7 Hz) ppm.

¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) (67.8 MHz) δ62.2 (d, J=7.6 Hz) 56.5 (d, J=162.8 Hz) 16.1 (d, J=5.7 Hz) ppm.

B. (E,E)-[[(3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxymethyl]phosphonic acid, diethyl ester

Following the procedure of Example 1 part C except substituting the Example 2, Part A carbinol for the carbinol employed in Example 1 Part C, the title compound is obtained.

Example 3 (E,E)-[[(1-Methylethoxy)[[(3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxy]methyl]phosphinyl]methyl]phosphonic acid, dimethyl ester A. (E,E)-[[(3,7,11-Trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxy]methyl]phosphonic acid, mono(1-methylethyl) ester

To a solution of 1.57 g (3.91 mmol) of Example 1 ester in 20 ml of 2-propanol under argon was added 20 ml of 1 N KOH, and the reaction was heated to 105° C. for 48 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the 2-propanol was evaporated and the aqueous residue was stirred with dichloromethane and acidified with 10% HCl. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried (MgSO₄), and evaporated to provide 1.39 g (96%, corrected for 0.37 mole equiv. of dichloromethane) of title compound as a colorless oil.

TLC Silica gel (8:1:1 1-propanol:con NH₃ :H₂ O) R_(f) =0.55.

¹ H NMR (CDCl₃, 270 MHz) . δ5.28 (t, 1H, J=7 Hz), 5.09 (m, 2H), 4.72 (m, 2H) 4.12 (d, 2H, J=7 Hz) 3.70 (d, 2H, J=7 Hz) 2.06 (m, 8H), 1.67 (s, 6H) 1.60 (s, 6H) 1.33 (d, 6H, J=6 Hz) ppm.

B. (E,E)-[[(1-Methylethoxy)[[(3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6, 10-dodecatrienyl)oxy]-methyl]phosphinyl]methyl]phosphonic acid, dimethyl ester

To a stirred solution of 1.395 g (3.89 mmol) of Part A compound in 8 ml of dichloromethane under argon was added 1.5 ml (7.51 mmol) of distilled N,N-diethyl(trimethylsilyl)amine. The reaction was allowed to stir for 1.5 hours at room temperature, the solvent was evaporated and the residue was dissolved in benzene, evaporated and then pumped at high vacuum. The remainder was dissolved in 8 ml of dichloromethane containing three drops of dimethylformamide (DMF) under argon at 0° C., and 0.68 ml (7.8 mmol) of distilled oxalyl chloride was added dropwise over 10 minutes, with much gas evolution. After 45 minutes at 0° C., the reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature for 45 minutes. The solution was evaporated and the residue was twice dissolved in benzene and evaporated, followed by pumping at high vacuum.

To a solution of 0.93 ml (8.58 mmol) of dimethyl methylphosphonate in 22 ml of THF at -78° C. under argon was added 5.2 ml (8.36 mmol) of n-butyllithium in hexane over 5 minutes to give a white suspension. After 40 minutes, the acid chloride prepared above was added in 8 ml of THF over 10 minutes. The reaction was allowed to stir for one hour at -78° C., when it was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride and diluted with diethyl ether. The aqueous layer was made acidic with 10% HCl and the organic layer was separated and washed with brine. The aqueous layer was re-extracted with dichloromethane, and the dichloromethane layer was washed with brine. The combined organic layers were dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated to provide 1.84 g of a crude yellow oil. Flash chromatography on 200 g of silica gel eluted with 2:98 methanol:dichloromethane gave 1.49 g (82%) of pure title triester as a colorless oil.

TLC Silica gel (5:95 CH₃ OH:CH₂ Cl₂) R_(f) =0.21

IR (CCl₄) 2977, 2954, 2926, 2853, 1449, 1385, 1375, 1256, 1229, 1063, 1036, 992, 841 cm⁻¹.

¹ H NMR (CDCl₃, 270 MHz) δ5.32 (t, 2H, J=7 Hz) , 5.09 (m, 2H), 4.78 (m, 2H), 4.10 (d, 2H, J=7 Hz) 3.79, 3.83 (two d, 6H, J=6 Hz), 3.6-3.9 (m, 2H) 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.07 (m, 8H) 1.68 (s, 6H) 1.60 (s, 6H) , 1.34, 1.37 (two d, 6H, J=7 Hz) ppm.

Mass Spec (CI-CH₄, + ions) m/e 505 (M+C₃ H₅), 493 (M+C₂ H₅), 465 (M+H).

EXAMPLE 4 (E,E)-[[Hydroxy[[(3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienyl)oxymethyl]phosphinyl]methyl]phosphonic acid, tripotassium salt

To a stirred solution of 654 mg (1.42 mmol) of Example 3 triester in 7 ml of dry dichloromethane at room temperature was added 0.47 ml (3.54 mmol) of 2,4,6-collidine followed by 0.94 ml (7.09 mmol) of bromotrimethylsilane. The reaction was allowed to stir for 23 hours at room temperature, the solution was evaporated, the residue was dissolved in benzene, evaporated, and pumped at high vacuum. The remainder was dissolved in 8 ml of 1 M KOH, stirred for 30 minutes, diluted with water and lyophilized. The crude material was purified by MPLC on a column of CHP20P (2.5 cm diameter × 20 cm height) eluted with water (fractions 1-12), followed by a gradient created by the gradual addition of acetonitrile (500 ml) to a reservoir of 400 ml of water. Approximately 15 ml fractions were collected. Fractions 27-33 were combined, the acetonitrile was evaporated at reduced pressure, and the aqueous solution was lyophilized to provide 680 mg (93%) of title product in the form of a dense, amorphous white lyophile. Further drying under vacuum led to an insignificant loss of mass. The pH of a 1% w/v solution was 8.9.

TLC Silica gel (5:4:1 1-propanol:conc. NH₃ :H₂ O) R_(f) =0.44.

IR (KBr) 3400 (broad), 2967, 2921, 2860, 1662, 1445, 1381, 1180, 1146, 1085, 1054, 967, 867, 789, 466 cm⁻¹.

¹ H NMR (D₂ O, 270 MHz) δ5.34 (t, 1H, J=7 Hz) 5.07, 5.08 (two t, 2H, J=7 Hz) 4.07 (d, 2H, J=7 Hz) 3.57 (d, 2H, J=6.4 Hz) 1.8-2.2 (m, 10H) 1.64 (s, 3H) 1.60 (s, 3H) 1.54 (s, 6H) ppm.

¹³ C NMR (67.8 MHz, D₂ O): δ144.35, 137.63, 134.48, 125.46, 125.30, 120.50, 70.17 (d, J=11.36 Hz), 69.30 (d, J=113.55 Hz), 39.9, 39.8, 30.45 (dd, J=119.23 Hz, 79.48 Hz) 26.78, 26.64, 25.89, 17.99, 16.74, 16.29 ppm.

³¹ P NMR (D₂ O, 36.2 MHz) δ32.1 (d, J=9.6 Hz), 12.7 (d, J=9.6 Hz) ppm.

Mass Spec (FAB, + ions) m/e 509 (M+H).

Analysis Calcd for C₁₇ H₂₉ K₃ P₂ O₆ +0.37 mol H₂ O (Effective MW =515.3): C, 39.61; H, 5.83; P, 12.02 Found: C, 39.98; H, 5.99; P, 12.29. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for preparing a phosphonic acid ester compound having the structure ##STR20## wherein R^(2a) is C₁ to C₈ alkyl or C₃ to C₁₂ alkenyl;R¹ is R⁵ -Q¹ -Q² -Q³ - wherein Q¹, Q² and Q³ are the same or different and are independently ##STR21## --CH₂ --C═C--CH₂ -- or a single bond, with the proviso that if Q¹ is a bond, then Q² and Q³ are bonds; and if Q² is a bond then Q³ is a bond; and R¹ must include at least one double bond; and wherein R⁶ is H, lower alkyl, halo or haloalkyl; R⁷ is H, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkylthio; R⁸ is H, halogen, trimethylsilyl or lower alkyl; and R⁹ is H or lower alkyl; ##STR22## CH₃ (CH₂)_(p) where p is an integer from 2 to 7, or R¹⁶ --C═C--CH₂ --where R¹⁶ is H or lower alkyl; R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are the same or different and are independently H, lower alkyl, haloalkyl, halogen or lower alkenyl or R¹⁰ and R¹¹ can be taken together to form (CH₂)_(s) where s is an integer from 2 to 7; R¹² is H, lower alkyl, halogen or lower alkenyl; and R¹³ and R¹⁴ are the same or different and are independently lower alkyl; with the proviso that if all of Q¹, Q² and Q³ are bonds, then both R¹⁰ and R¹¹ cannot be H, and R⁵ cannot be CH₃ (CH₂)_(p) --with p less than or equal to 4, and including all stereoisomers thereof, which comprises treating a solution of a carbinol of the structure. ##STR23## in an inert organic solvent, with a strong base which has the structure

    KN[Si(alkyl).sub.3 ].sub.2

at a temperature of within the range of from about -20° C. to about 20° C., under an inert atmosphere, to form an alkoxide of the structure. ##STR24## reacting an allylic halide of the structure

    R.sup.1 Hal

wherein Hal is Cl, Br or I, wherein R¹ is as defined above, with said alkoxide, at a temperature within the range of from about -20° to about 20° C., to form the phosphonic acid ester of the structure ##STR25## wherein lower alkyl by itself or as part of another group has 1 to 8 carbons in the normal chain.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the alkoxide is formed by treating a solution of a carbinol of the structure ##STR26## wherein R^(2a) is lower alkyl, in an inert organic solvent, with a strong base which is KNK[Si(Alkyl)₃ ]₂.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the strong base has the structure KN[Si(CH₃)₃ ]₂.
 4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the carbinol is reacted with the strong base under an inert atmosphere at a temperature within the range of from about -10° C. to about 10° C.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1 where the reaction of the halide which is farnesyl chloride and alkoxide which has the formula ##STR27## is carried out at a temperature within the range of from about -10° C. to about 10° C.
 6. A method for preparing a phosphonic acid ester compound having the structure ##STR28## wherein R^(2c) is lower alkyl, including all stereoisomers thereof, which comprises treating a solution of a carbinol of the structure ##STR29## wherein R^(2c) is lower alkyl, in an inert organic solvent, with a strong base which has the structure

    KN[Si(Alkyl).sub.3 ].sub.2,

under an inert atmosphere at a temperature within the range of from about -20° C. to about 20° C., to form the alkoxide of the structure

    (R.sup.2c O).sub.2 --P--CH.sub.2 O.sup.⊕ K.sup.⊖,

reacting farnesyl chloride with said alkoxide, at a temperature within the range of from about -10° C. to about 10° C., to form the phosphonic acid ester, wherein lower alkyl or alkyl by itself or as part of another group has 1 to 8 carbons.
 7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the alkoxide is formed by treating a solution of a carbinol of the structure ##STR30## wherein R^(2c) is lower alkyl, in an inert organic solvent, with a strong base which has the formula

    KN[Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3 ].sub.2.


8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the carbinol is reacted with the strong base under an inert atmosphere at a temperature within the range of from about -10° C. to about 10° C.
 9. The method as defined in claim 7 where the carbinol has the formula ##STR31##
 10. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the phosphonic acid ester formed has the structure ##STR32## 